Garden-Style Pasta Salad
A refreshing salad with zesty citrus vinaigrette and seasonal vegetables, perfect for summer gatherings. This italian-inspired quick meals ready in about 40 minutes pairs Farfalle pasta, pint, halved Cherry tomatoes, medium, diced Cucumber for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz Farfalle pasta
- 1 pint, halved Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium, diced Cucumber
- 1 small, thinly sliced Red onion
- 1/2 cup, chopped Kalamata olives
- 1 large, juiced Lemon
- 3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook 12 oz farfalle pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, combine 1 pint halved cherry tomatoes, 1 diced cucumber, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, and 1/2 cup chopped Kalamata olives.
- Step 3: Whisk 1 lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified. Pour over the salad and toss to coat.
- Step 4: Chill for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional lemon zest if desired.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Garden-Style Pasta Salad take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (30 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Garden-Style Pasta Salad?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep farfalle pasta from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Garden-Style Pasta Salad?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Garden-Style Pasta Salad for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Garden-Style Pasta Salad?
Italian quick meals like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Brought this to a potluck and it was the first dish to disappear.
- ★★★★★
The step-by-step instructions were super clear. Turned out perfect on my first try.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
